Israeli zombie film to screen

The Israeli zombie action film “Cannon Fodder” will be shown… (Submitted photo )

October 16, 2013|By Sergio Carmona, Staff Writer

The first Israeli zombie feature film is coming to Miami.

Miami Jewish Film Festival, O Cinema, and the Consulate General of Israel to Florida and Puerto Rico will present the Florida premiere of the Israeli zombie action film "Cannon Fodder" for a special one-night screening event. This screening takes place at 7:30 p.m. on Oct 22 at O Cinema Wynwood, 90 NW 29th St. in Miami. The film contains black humor, special effects and a lot of blood and tells the story of an Israeli elite force entering Lebanon to complete its last mission discovering a new blood-thirsty enemy.

The film's writer-director Eitan Gafny, who along with actress Yafit Shalev will be in attendance for the screening as they introduce the film and participate in a Q&A, said this opportunity is a huge honor.

"First of all it's a whole Jewish film festival thing and we're always happy to meet other Jews and show them what's going on in Israeli cinema," he added. "It's also great because it's the chance to show the film to a new crowd in a new place in the world, no matter if they're Jewish or not. This is a very small and humble independent film that we did for a very small budget so everywhere we go and everywhere the film goes, we're very excited."

Gafny said the film draws a lot of inspiration from 80's American action and horror films. He also said that although there have been short Israeli zombie films, this is the first feature film featuring the undead and the third horror film produced in Israel.

"It's pretty revolutionary," Gafny said regarding the film. "Everything the movie industry has been talking about in Israel for the past few months is the whole independent films wave and a lot of those independent films tend to be sci-fi and horror and action, genres that haven't been made in Israel for a long time and it is pretty exciting. It's also exciting that people from other countries, like UK for example, see this new trend. It's exciting to be part of a cinematic revolution so time will tell if it works."

Miami Jewish Film Festival director Igor Shteyrenberg said "We are thrilled to be co-presenting with O Cinema and the Consulate General of Israel the Florida Premiere of "Cannon Fodder."

"This film is a wanton blender-full of blood and guts spun together for a good time of laughs and screams. I love it," Shteyrenberg added. "It certainly marks a quintessential moment in Israeli cinema, and we are proud to be a part of it."

Ticket prices for the screening are $12 for general audience and $10 for Miami Jewish Film Festival and O Cinema Members. To purchase tickets, visit http://www.o-cinema.org/event/mjff-cannon-fodder/ or call O Cinema at 305-571-9970. Seating is limited.